Legislative powers of UK parliament v UK congress

Question 1

give example of veto override for Congress

Answer 1

JUSTA ( justice against sponsors of terrorism act) strongly supported by the president Obama but surpassed 2/3rd majority vote needed in both houses to initiate 1st ever override of Obama’s presidency was achieved during 114th congress in 2016. Republican majorities in both houses = sig. leg. authority for congress.

Question 2

who has more power over oversight?

Answer 2

• Congress has greater powers in oversight thanks to separation of powers which is ratified by the US’ codified constitution in article 1 , whereas Parliament’s oversight powers are largely restricted by convention of voting along party line, especially with the 3 whip-line tool, MP’s risk the notion of CMR with their government as well as the opportunity to advance to the PM’s cabinet. Here the power of patronage plays a significant role in exerting power over the HOC while the US president is arguably equal to the Congress in terms of legislative powers

Question 3

REPRESENTATION ;

pork barrel politics example , is it good or bad?

Answer 3

• use of PBP to maintain majority of constituency votes - To a certain extent, a member of Congress is judged by their ability to deliver funds to their constituents. therefore PBP is significant to HOR members who r elected every 2 years and vulnerable to losing their position as Rep. - complementary of the delegate model - Rep, are active mouthpieces for their district’s communities.
• e.g; Speaker of HOR believed that transportation was a necessity and would enable and economic boost to his districts state Massachusetts= push for fed. govt. to fund the Big Dig = success and widely revered throughout the area.
• whether the money being taken out of the fed. govt is always going to be used for effective and sensible reasons is debatable but majority of pork barrel politics is used to benefit the Rep. rather than the ppl they rep.

Question 4

SEPERATION OF POWERS

explain the differences in sep of powers between Congress and Parlia.

Answer 4

• Supreme court, congress and the President’s powers are strictly separated, which is evident in the enumeration of specific power to different branches such as the Congress’ power of the purse, outlined in article 1 section 7 while the Pres. has the power to ask for the written opinion of their cabinet. Seperation of powers is also not just exclusive to the branches but is also enforced within the legislative branch whereby both houses in the bicameral legislature are equal because of their elected nature but they both retain exclusive powers such as the Senate’s power to ratify treaties. Neither houses or branches of government are able to intrude on each others exclusive powers, this ensures that each house is relatively equal in the extent of their powers, so sovereignty is unclear. However in the UK , despite the view that the legislatures are bicameral, parliament is the only sovereign power. This is a result of the unelected nature of the HOL, unlike the Senate the HOL lacks the democratic mandate to influence legislation at equal strength to the HOC due to the